15 Best Scholarships for College Students in California

The average cost of in-state tuition for California universities is $8,400/year. For out-of-state students, the cost is even higher. To help alleviate some of that financial stress, you may want to apply for scholarships for college students in California. Additionally, you may be interested in becoming a member of the California Scholarship Federation for even more scholarship opportunities.

Who is eligible for California scholarships?

Especially for high school students, scholarship foundations typically look at the student’s place of residency. Some programs may be dedicated to helping support students in specific counties and geographic regions of California. Therefore, most scholarships for college students in California are for in-state residents only.

However, this is not always the case. For college freshmen or transfer students, scholarships should be available at their respective institutions, regardless of place of residency.

What is the California Scholarship Federation?

The California Scholarship Federation is an organization designed to recognize, encourage, and support high school and middle school students in the state of California. There are over 1,500 chapters at schools across the state. Each chapter is led by an advisor, who oversees the students and may nominate them for scholarships.

To gain membership, students must submit an application. Membership is based on a student’s academic performance. For example, students must earn 10 points per semester to remain in good standing. Every “A” is worth 3 points and every “B” is worth one point. A final grade of a D or F in a course automatically disqualifies the student from the California Scholarship Federation.

Additionally, annual conferences are held to recognize student achievement. To begin your involvement, you can see if your school currently has an active chapter.

What types of scholarships are available?

There are many scholarships for college students in California available. Scholarships may be awarded as a lump sum amount or may be distributed over the course of a student’s undergraduate education.

Furthermore, there are major-specific scholarships, meaning only students intending to major in a specific discipline are eligible. Therefore, only students with the same concentration will be allowed in the applicant pool.

Additionally, there are a variety of scholarships for students from different backgrounds. Some of these scholarships are aimed to support students of specific races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations to succeed in higher education.

Other scholarships are not specific to a student’s demographic or major. It is important to review each of the eligibility requirements before applying.

Scholarships for college students in California

1) Professional BusinessWomen of California Scholarship Program

Amount Awarded: Up to $15,000

Deadline: January

Eligibility: This award is for female high school seniors who are high-achieving and plan to study at an accredited undergraduate university. Students must be California residents. There are no specific county requirements.

Application Process: In addition to their application form, students must submit a 500-word personal essay and include three letters of recommendation. Two letters of recommendation should be provided by an academic contact, and one letter of recommendation should come from a community or non-academic member.

2) California Scholarship Fund

Amount Awarded: $1,000-$3,000

Deadline: Nomination deadline: February

Eligibility: Students must be nominated by a CSF advisor. So, this is one of the scholarships for college students in California where students will need to be part of the California Scholarship Federation to remain eligible. Advisors will need to make their nominations by the middle of February each year. Furthermore, students must remain in good standing.

Application Process: Students will need to submit a PDF copy of their high school transcript. Additionally, students must present a list of their extracurriculars, a personal statement and two letters of recommendation. One of these letters must be from a CSF advisor, and one must be from another community member outside of school.

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3) Making Waves Bay Area Scholarship

Amount Awarded: $20,000 for twenty eligible students

Deadline: February

Eligibility: Students must be a high school senior at the time of application. Additionally, they must be residents of the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma.

Upon graduation, students should plan to attended a not-for-profit four-year college in the U.S. As well, students should have a maximum Student Aid Index of $7,500, as determined through FAFSA.

Application Process: First, students should be enrolled in the Making Waves college and career success program. From there, students will need to complete and submit the scholarship application online. Students will need to submit a letter of recommendation, an unofficial transcript, a copy of their FAFSA report and SAI estimator.

4) Krishnan-Shah Family Scholarship

Amount Awarded: Up to $10,000

Deadline: February

Eligibility: Students must be a graduating high school senior residing in the Silicon Valley Region. For example, the counties of Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda, and Santa Cruz.

Additionally, students must be first-generation college students planning to enroll as a full-time student in a four-year college or university. Students must demonstrate extracurricular involvement and financial need. As well, students must have a maximum GPA of 3.75.

Application Process: Over 26 separate scholarships are available. This is one of the scholarships for college students in California that is part of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) Scholarships. Application processes vary by scholarship.

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5) Hazel Reed Baumeister Scholarship

Amount Awarded: $5,000

Deadline: February

Eligibility: To be eligible, students must demonstrate community involvement over a period of several years. Additionally, students must achieve a minimum 3.5 GPA, demonstrate financial hardship, and be a graduating high school senior.

Students must live in San Mateo County or Santa Clara County and plan to enroll full-time in a four-year institution.

Application Process: This is one of the scholarships for college students in California that is part of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) Scholarships. Application processes vary by scholarship.

6) Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group (PAFMG) Annual Pre-Med Scholarship

Amount Awarded: $30,000 (to be paid over five years)

Deadline: March

Eligibility: Students must anticipate a career as a medical doctor and plan to attend medical school. Furthermore, students must live in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz.

Academically, students must maintain a 3.5 GPA in high school and a 3.0 GPA in college. Students will also need to demonstrate financial need. Students must also write a personal statement.

Application Process: To apply, students must submit a letter of recommendation, their high school transcript, a copy of their SAT or ACT transcripts. If applicable, students must also submit their FAFSA report.

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7) Ivy & Pearls Scholarship

Amount Awarded: Up to $3,000

Deadline: March

Eligibility: Students must be of African or African-American descent. Additionally, students must reside in the counties of San Mateo, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, San Francisco, or Alameda.

On a 4.0 GPA scale, students must have a GPA of 2.75 or higher and plan to enroll as a full-time student in a community college, vocational school, or four-year institution.

Application Process: Submission forms will be collected through an online portal that utilizes a Gmail account. Students must respond to an essay question, which can vary from year in year. These essays should be no more than 2 pages. In addition, students must provide two letters of recommendation and a high school transcript.

8) San Diego Chinese Women’s Association Scholarships

Amount Awarded: $1,500 (Students planning to attend a four-year university); $1,000 (Students attending community college or vocational program)

Deadline: March

Eligibility: Students can be male or female students of at least one-quarter Chinese descent. These scholarships are open to students attending high school in San Diego County.

All students, regardless of their institution post-graduation, must demonstrate a GPA of at least 2.5.

Application Process: To apply, students will complete an online application form. Materials needed include a list of extracurriculars, a letter of recommendation, and an official high school transcript. Additionally, students will complete an essay on an assigned topic.

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9) Italian Catholic Federation Scholarship

Amount Awarded: $400 (First-year applications); Up to $1,000 (Second—fourth year awards)

Deadline: April

Eligibility: Students must identify as Roman Catholic. Additionally, students must also be of Italian descent and live within the Roman Catholic Dioceses of California. Or, students are established as a member of the Italian Catholic Federation by a parent, guardian, or grandparent.

Application Process: Submissions will be evaluated on the basis of their academic achievement, including their cumulative GPA throughout their high school career. Applications will also be evaluated based on student’s extracurricular involvement, leadership roles, and volunteering experience. Additionally, students will need to demonstrate financial need.

10) Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund

Amount Awarded: Most scholarships range from $1,000-$5,000 (varies by scholarship)

Deadline: Varies by scholarship

Eligibility: Most (but not all) of these scholarships are reserved for Jewish high school students. While eligibility varies by award, most of the scholarships look for students who demonstrate financial need and academic excellence. Additionally, some awards are reserved for students who live in specific California counties.

Application Process: Again, this varies by scholarship. However, applications will automatically be considered for each scholarship they qualify for.

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11) The Tang Scholarship

Amount Awarded: $15,000

Deadline: April

Eligibility: These awards are intended for LGBTQ+ identifying students who are also Asian and Pacific Islanders. Students must graduate high school from one of the nine Bay Area counties.

Students will need to demonstrate financial need, academic promise, and achieve a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Application Process: To apply, students will need to submit two letters of recommendation, a high school transcript, a 500-word personal statement, proof of financial need, and proof of citizenship. Additionally, some students may be requested to complete an interview.

12) UC Berkeley Achievement Award Program

Amount Awarded: $6,000/academic year

Deadline: May

Eligibility: Students must be full-time UC Berkeley students to receive this award. For first-year students, they must be eligible for Cal Grant A, completed a high school degree, and submit a statement of intent to register. Junior transfer students are also eligible.

Application Process: Students must commit to participate in workshops, retreats, alumni engagement events, and one-on-one advising throughout the academic year. Students will need to create a login through the scholarships portal.

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13) CAC Educational Scholarship Foundation

Amount Awarded: $2,500 (1^st place); $2,000 (second place); $1,500 (third place)

Deadline: June

Eligibility: This is one of the scholarships for college students in California that is open to any high school junior or senior attending high school in the state. No specific county of residence is required. Students must be planning to attend an accredited public or private university or trade school within 12 months after graduation.

Application Process: Students will respond to an essay prompt. For example: Explain the importance of establishing and maintaining good credit in college. Entries must be typed and range from between 700 to 1,000 words. Personal information should not appear on any page.

14) Golden State Nursing Foundation BSN Scholarship

Amount Awarded: $500

Deadline: June

Eligibility: Awards are distributed to nursing students with California residency. High school students must be accepted to attend an accredited nursing school to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN). Or, students may be currently enrolled in a nursing program.

Application Process: Students must submit two letters of recommendation. Plus, applications must clearly demonstrate the student’s nursing career goals.

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15) UC San Diego Chancellor’s Scholarships

Amount Awarded: $5,000/academic year

Deadline: November

Eligibility: Students must be a California resident entering their first year at UC San Diego. They must have demonstrated academic excellence. Also, awards are based on financial need.

Application Process: A personal statement will be submitted. Students will also need to include a list of relevant extracurricular activities and provide any relevant information about their background.

Scholarships for college students in California – In Review

There are many different types of scholarships for students living in California. Especially if you are part of the California Scholarship Federation, then there may be even more scholarship opportunities available to you.

To apply for these scholarships, most schools require a FAFSA application or demonstration of financial need. As well, most scholarships also look for a student’s history of academic achievement, community involvement, and extracurriculars.

For even more information about finding the perfect scholarship for you, you can visit the following links:

• How to Find College Scholarships
• 50 Colleges With Full Ride Scholarships
• Selective Colleges With Generous Scholarships